Elastic-fluid turbine



June-26, 192s. 1,675,212

4E. D. DICKINSON E.T AL

ELAsTrc FLUID TURBINE Filed ostile, 192s ny. z.

` fh l/e'n tors,

` Regina/d G Stande/Mg Patented June 26, 1928.

UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE. 'i

EDGAR D. DICKINSON, OF BEVERLY, AND REGINALD G. STANDERWICK, CIVIIMARIBIIAE- HEAD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TC GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPAN'Y CORPORA- 'rIoN or NEW Yoan.

ELAsTId-FLUID TBBINE.

d v Application filed October 16, 1925. Serial No. 62,889.

The present invention relates to elastic fluid turbines and especially t'o turbines provided with what are known as oil governors.

In connection with such turbines, it has been the practice to provide an oil pump for the governor mechanism and a second oil pump for the lubricating system.

The primary obj ect of our invention is to provide an improvedarrangement whereby the same oil pumpmay be utilized successfully for both the oil governor and the lubricating system, whereby in connection with a turbine installation one pump may be dispensed with.

-A further object of our invention is to provide an improved form of adjusting and pressure relief valve structurel possessing certain advantages as hereinafter pointed out.

For a consideration of what we believe to be novel and our invention, attention is directed'to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an elastic fluid turbine equipped with a mechanism embodying our invention, a part of the mechanism being shown in section, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view through our improved adjusting and pressure relief valve structure.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates an elastic fluid turbine which may be of any suitable type 'and may drive any desired load. In the present instance, it is shown as having its shaft 2 coupled directly to the armature of a generator 3. 4 indicates the bearings for shaft 2, and 5 indicates the ex? haust conduit of the turbine. The admission of elastic fluid to the turbine is regulated by a suitable valve structure 6.- This valve structure is indicated only in outline and may be of any suitable type. Its detail -structure forms no part of the present invention. The valve mechanism 6 is opened and closed by a piston 7 which is suitably connected to it. `IPiston 7 moves in a cylinder 8. When it moves upward it opens the valve lmeans 6 andwhen it moves downward closes it. Piston 7 is connected by a 5 stem 9 to a head 10 which slides onan ex- Itension 11 of cylinder 8. The admission of operating fluid to cylinder 8 is controlled by avpilot valve structure 12 of usual and well known arrangement. Piston 7 and cylinder 8 and the pilot valve structure 12 form a 55 well known type of fluid actuated motor such as is employed usually for operating the controlling valve means, of an elastic fluid turbine.

The stem 13 of the pilot valve structure is 00 pivotally connected to a lever 14.- which at one end is lfulcrumed on a vertical spindle l5. The other end of the lever 14 is connectedby a vertical spindle 16 to a piston 17 which moves in a cyllnder 18; Surrounding 55' a portionof spindle 16 is a spring 19 which at its lower end is rigidly connected to a spring plug 20 which forms also a cover for cylinder 18. The other end of spring 19 -is rigidly connected to a sprihg plu 21 ad 70 justably mounted on-spindle 16. Sirng 19 serves to bias piston 17 to its lowermost position in cylinder 18, this being the position shown ,in the drawing, andserves to oppose upward movement of piston 17.

Fixed on pilot valve stem 13 is a collar 22 upon which rests the lower end of a spring 23. The upper end of spring 23 engages, a collar 24 carried by an arm 25 fixed to head 10. Pilot valve. stem 13 extends loosely 80 through an opening in collar 24 and a-rm'25.

With the arrangement so far described, when piston 17 moves upward in cylinder 4 18 it lifts the left hand end of lever 14, the lever pivoting on the upper end of spindle 15. This lifts pilot valve 12 so as to admit actuatingluid to the upper side of piston 7 and permits it to escape from the underside. This causes piston 7 to move downward in cylinder 8 to close oif somewhat the 90 valve means 6, thereby decreasing the amount of elastic fluid being supplied to the turbine. When piston 7 moves downward, it carries with it the head 10 and arm 25, and arm 25 in moving downward restores the 95 pilot valve to itsoriginal position, through the intermediary of spring 23, collar 24 and the pilot valve stem 13, the movement, taking place in opposition to spring 23, and at the u l same time restoring piston 17 to its original 100 position.

When piston 17 moves downward in cylinder 18 A opening movement of the valve means 6 is effected in the same general manner as that just described. This is a known valveregulatng means and in itself forms and a discharge chamber y38.

Yas

no part-of our present invention. The pressure which-moves piston 17 in cylinder 18 is supplied to it by a pump 26 ,driven from the turbine shaft, the pump being of a type wherein the pressure created by it varies 1n accordance with the speed at which it is driven. v t

Pun 26 is driven from the turbine shaft throug a suitable worm gearing 27 and serves to supply oil to both the oil governor mechanism and to the lubricating system for the turbine. The discharge side of pump 26 is connected by a pipe 28 to the lower 'end of cylinder 18, whereby it serves to supply pressure to the under slde of pist0n 17. Connected to pipe 28 is a discharge pipe or by-pass pipe 29 which leads to an adjusting and pressure relief valve structure 30.

This structure comprises a cylindrical casing 31 closed at itsftwo ends by heads 32 and 33. It is rovided with artition walls 34 and 35 whic serve to de ne a variable pressure chamber 36, a constant pressure chamber 37 Pipe 29 yis connected to variable pressure chamber 36. In wall 34 is a passage 39 which serves to connect chamber 36 'to chamber 37 and in wall 35 is a passage 40 which serves to connect chamber 37 to chamber 38. The flow of oil through passage 39 is controlled by a valve 41 on the end of ay valve stem 42 having an operating .wheel 43. Valve stem 42 has a threaded connection'with head 33 so that by turning the valve stem the position of valve 41 1n passage 39 may be adjusted to o en and close the valve. The flow of oil t rou h passage 40 is controlled by pressure relie valve 44 which is loosely lmounted on stem 42. On the threaded portion of stem 42 is a nut 45 which is held from turning by a lock nut 46. Located between nut 45 and valve 44 is a` spring 47 which serves 'to bias valve 44 toward closed position. This forms a spring pressed. relief valve, and nut 45 forms a. means whereb 'the setting of the relief valve may be a vjusted' by changing the tension of s ring 47.

With the arrangement shown, "it wi l be seen that` when stem 42 is turned to move valve 41 axially nut 45 moves with the stem so that 'when stem 42 is turned in a direction to close valve -41, the tension of spring 47 is increased and when it is moved ina directioni pipes 50 leading to the bearings, the flow of oil from the header to the pipes being controlled by suitable valves 5l. Connected to discharge chamber 38 is a pipe 52 which may be cons1dered to form a continuation of discharge or by-pass pipe 29 and which conveys oil back to the oil tank in which the pump is located, the same being indicated at 53.

When the turbine is running, pump 26 delivers oil at a pressure proportional to the speed of the turbine. This oil pressure is conveyed from the discharge side of the pump throu h pipe 28 to the underside of piston 17. il from pipe 28 flows back to tank 53 by way of pipe 29, variable pressure chamber 36, constant pressure chamber 37, discharge chamber 38 and pipe 52. A portion of the oil flowing into constant pressure chamber 37 is carried by pipe 48 to the lubricating `"system for the turbine. Valve 41 is set so that when the turbine is running at the desired speed, the flow of oil through it will be such as to maintain in pipe 28 a pressure which, acting on the lower surface of piston 17, serves to balance spring 19 and maintain valve \means 6 in a. position to admit to the turbine elastic fluid suflicient of the turbine increases, the pressure increases, thereby etl'ecting an upward movement of piston 17 and, in the manner al- .to maintain the turbine speed. If the speed ready described, a closing of valve means 6 through the oil governor mechanism, to decrease the supply of elastic fluid to the turbine, bringing the speed back to normal.

' On the other hand, if the speed of the turbine decreases, then the oil pressure decreases, permitting piston 17 to move downward to effect an opening movement of valve means 6 so as to supply more elastic fluid to the turbine to bring 1ts speed up to normal. Valve 44 is held by spring 47 and such spring is set to maintain the desired definite pressure inchamber 37.

In the operation of an oil governing mechanism, it is necessary that the oil pressure in the discharge pipe of the pump should remain constant as long as the turbine speed remains constant,and if this is to be accomplished, it is necessary that the pressure-in .the region to which the discharge pi e or).

con-

by-pass pipe discharges be maintaine stant. As is obvious, if the pressure in the region to which the by-pass pipe. discharges varies, the pressure in the pressure pipe will vary because of the resultlng change in the rate of flow of oil from the pipe due to the change in the pressure. This requires, in

the present instance, that the pressure in chamber37 `must be maintained constant. This is accomplished by means of the pre/ssure relief valve 44, the pressure maintained being one suitable for supplying oil tothe continuously from'chamber 36 past 4valve 41 to chamber 37. From chamber 37 part of the oil flows through pipe 48 to the lubricat-y ing system and the remainder flows past ward open position.

pressure relief valve, 44 toreturn pipe 52. Valve 44 is held open for the. escape of oil past it bv the pressure of the oil in cham-` ber 37 lf the pressure in chamber 37 tends to increase due to decrease in the requirements for lubricating oil, for example, then valve 44 will be opened further against the action of spring 47 to permit more oil to flow through .passage 40. On the other hand if the pressure in chamber 37 tends to decrease due toan increase in the demands of the lubricating system for example, then valve 44 will move toward closed position `under the action of spring 47 thereby ermit-ting a lesser amount of oil to escape t rough passage 40 and bringing the pressure in chamber 37 back to the desirednormal constant value again. p

lVhen thesetting of valve 41 is changed to vary the speed of the turbine, the quantity of oil supplied to chamber 37 decreases or increases depending upon whether valve 41 is opened further to increase the speed of the turbine or is closed further to decrease the speed of the turbine. Ifk a larger quantit of oil is supplied to chamber 37, then wlth the same setting of spring 47v as before. the pressure in chamber 37 would increase somewhat because an increased pressure would be required in order to open valve 44, the additional amount necessary to pass the extra oil. Onthe other hand, if a smaller quantity of oil is supplied to chamber 37 then with the same setting o spring 47, the pressure in chamber 37 would decreasev somewhat due to the smaller. amount of oil to be passed through l lVhen changing the. settin valve 41 therefore, to change the spee of the turbine, it is desirable to change also the setting of spring 47 in order to maintain constant the pressure in chamber 37. This, it will be seen, is accomplished by our improved construction, for, due to the arrangement of the nut 45 which travels with stem 42, the tension of spring 47` is automatically increased whenever valve 41 is moved toward closed position and decreased when it is moved. .to

By this arrangement, there is maintained always in chamber 37 the same pressure irrespective of the' ,setting .of valve 41. By the arrangement, therefore, we are enabled tovmaintain alconstant, pressure on the discharge side of xvalve 41 and a't the Sametime a `pressure suitable for supplying oil to the4 4 parts of the turbineto lbe lubricated.

opassage 40.

Our improved pressure relief valve structure, while itis well adapted for use in the arrangement shown, is not necessarily limited to this particular use but may be used in connection with other apparatus to which it may be found adapte In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes we have described the prin- 'ciple of operation of our invention, together with the apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

Whatwe claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, 1s:-

1. A'valve means for use with an elastic fluid turbine having an oil governor mechanismv including a moving part, a pump, a. conduit for conveying oi to the moving part, and a by-pass conduit connected with the Afirst-named conduit, said valve means comprisin walls defining a chamber into which the y-pass conduit discharges, a valve controlling the .tlow of oil from the by-pass conduit to said chamber, a

pressure relief valve controlling iow of oil from said chamber and servingv to maintain constant pressure in saidchambe'r, conduit means for conve ing oil from said chamber to parts of th cation, and means for simultaneously' adjusting the first-named valveandthe setting 7 of the pressure relief valve.

' 2. A valve means for use with an elastic fluid turbine having an oil governor mechanism including a moving part, a pump, a conduit for conveyingI oil from the pump to the moving part, and a. by-pass conduit connectedY with the firstnamed conduit, said valve means comprisin walls demn' g a chamber into whic the y-pass conduit discharges, a valve controllmg the llow of oil from the b -pass conduit to said chamber, a pressure re 'ef valve controlling flow of oil from said chamber and being movable in response to pressure in said chamber, between the closed kand open positions, independently of the first-named valve to maintain constant pressure in said chamber, a conduit from the pump e' turbine requiring lubrimeans for conveying oil from said chamber V to parts of the turbine requiring lubrlcatlon,

chamber into which the by-pass conduit disfrom the by-pass conduit to said chamber,

a spring-pressed pressure relief valve con-v trolling the iow of oil from said chamber. a conduit for conveying oil from said cham-l ber, and means for simultaneously adjusting said first-named valve and the setting of the springof the pressure relief valve.

4. In combination, walls forming a chamber, said walls being provided with an admission opening, and a discharge opening, a valve in the vadmission opening, a pressure relief valve in the discharge opening, said valve being movable tothe open position in response to pressure independently of the first-named valve, and a common means connected with both valves for simultaneously adjusting the degree of opening of the firstnamed valve and the setting of the pressure relief valve.

5. In combination, Walls forming a chamber, said Walls bein provided with-an admission opening an a discharge opening, a valve in the admission opening, a springpressed relief valve in the discharge opening said valve being movable to the open position in response to pressure independently of the first-named valve, and a common means connected with both valves for simultaneously adjusting the first-named valve and the setting of the springof the relief valve.

`carried b the relie 6. In combination, walls forming a chamber, said walls 'being provided with an admission opening, and a discharge opening, a valve in the admission opening, a springressed reliefl valve in the discharge opening, the last-named valve being movable to the open position in response to pressure independently of the first-named valve, an operative stem for the first-named valve by which its degree of opening is adjusted, and means moved by said stem for adjusting the settinlg of the spring. of the relief valve.

7. n combination, a casing having a fluid inlet at one end and a fluid outlet at the other end, spaced partition walls in said casing between the inlet and outlet ends providing a pressure chamber therein, a valve providing a variable fluid \connection between the inlet end of the casing and the chamber, a relief valve providing a Huid connection between the chamber and the outlet end of the casing, a spring by which said relief valve is closed against the pressure in the chamber, a valve stem by which the first-named valve is operated, and means said stem and connected with valve spring for varying the spring pressure acting upon said valve when the first-named valve is operated.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 14th day of October, 1925.

EDGAR D. DICKINSON.- REGINALD G. STANDERWICK. 

